Editor’s note: As part of The Cannabist’s special report, “CBD, TBD,” on July 5 we published a statement by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration addressing its policy position on cannabidiol oil. The DEA referenced Charlotte’s Web, a trademarked hemp extract made by CW Hemp. The company’s CEO, Joel Stanley, reached out to The Cannabist to make a statement of his own.

In response to The Cannabist’s ongoing reporting on cannabidiol (CBD), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration this week released a reckless opinion statement that not only contradicts federal law — its very issuance is also illegal.

The DEA does not make laws, and the agency’s position is merely an opinion, one that, in this case, is actually illegal to enforce. But the statement itself violates the expressed intent of Congress.

The language given by the continuing Appropriations Act of 2017, Sec. 773, explicitly states that federal funds may not be used to:

…prohibit the transportation, processing, sale, or use of industrial hemp that is grown or cultivated in accordance with section 7606 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, within or outside the State in which the industrial hemp is grown or cultivated.

Therefore, the DEA statement itself — because it was made by a federal agency – is not lawful; it constitutes an illegal use of federal funds to prohibit “industrial hemp” that is federally compliant.

COLORADO

First of Colorado’s New Class of Weed Couriers are Officially Licensed

A new class of cannabis couriers have officially been licensed in Colorado. Transporters and couriers from Green Parcel Service and Colorado Logistics are the first to be awarded the new transporter licenses for medical and recreational cannabis. These two companies are the very first to secure the licenses, with more expected to come in the future.

Licensed under a law that took effect on July 1st, the license for the new class of couriers provides more rights than they had in the past. The couriers used to be classified as marijuana “vendors”, which was a broad category that encompassed several other ancillary services. A two-year courier license would reportedly cost about $4,400, according to Associated Press. The law also creates a new class of cannabis licenses that allow independent companies to provide logistics, distribution and storage services to licensed retail and medical cannabis dispensaries businesses in Colorado.

RENO — Nevada dispensaries licensed to sell recreational marijuana are running out of pot less than a week after the legal market came to life, according to the state Department of Taxation.

On Friday, taxation officials announced that Gov. Brian Sandoval had endorsed the department’s “statement of emergency,” allowing state officials to consider adopting an emergency marijuana regulation that could alleviate the shortage.

The Nevada Tax Commission will vote on the regulation Thursday.

“Based on reports of adult-use marijuana sales already far exceeding the industry’s expectations at the state’s 47 licensed retail marijuana stores, and the reality that many stores are running out of inventory, the Department must address the lack of distributors immediately. Some establishments report the need for delivery within the next several days,” said department spokeswoman Stephanie Klapstein in an email.

Medical marijuana can be delivered to patients in Texas, however the legality of it is the question on everyone’s mind.

A company called Legal Green which has been operating for three years now shipping medical marijuana to patients in all 50 states has set up shop in Dallas. Their eyes are now on the potential of a huge Texas market, despite already being involved with getting medicine to patients in Texas.

“We’ve been openly shipping to all 50 states about three years with zero issue” says Zach Pizgatti, who operates the business.

Marijuana, whether consumed for medical or recreational purposes, is illegal in Texas. Pizgatti insists that his business operations are entirely legal however.